Mounting for electrical devices



Feb 14, 1939. H. HUBBELL, JR 2,146,741

MOUNTING FOR ELECTRTCAL DEVICES Filed July 14, 1937 INVENTOR ATTORNEYSPatented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING FORELECTRICAL DEVICES Harvey Hubbell, Jr., Bridgeport, Conn. ApplicationJuly 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,464

-1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricalhouse wiring, and has particular relation to the mounting of electricaldevices such as switches, wall receptacles, etc.,

in wall outlet boxes.

In wiring houses the outlet boxes are not infrequently set crook-ed, ornot at the proper level or relation to the surface of the wall, in thehaste to install them, and. then when a switch,

outlet receptacle, or other device is mounted in the box it also will becrooked and will not be straight and flush with the surface of the wallin which it is mounted.

To overcome these objections mounting yokes or mounting lugs or meansfor such devices have been provided having extensions to lie against thesurface of the wall, in which the device is being mounted, to locate itflush with the Wall surface. Howevenif the arrangement is such that forany reason these extensions cannot be used for this purpose, as forexample when the wall surface in the vicinity of the outlet box isbroken away or does not come sufficiently near the box so suchextensions may not project suificien'tly to rest on said surface aplurality of washers are employed for boosting the electrical deviceoutwardly at either or both ends to bring it flush with the surface ofthe wall in which it is being mounted. These washers are also used when30 the wall box is not mounted straight or in the proper location tolevel and straighten up the wiring device to locate it parallel with thewall surface and in the proper relation thereto.

An object of the present invention is to. provide 35 a mounting meansfor electrical devices which includes all the elements necessary for themounting of an electrical device in a wall box under any of theconditions above mentioned whereby to bring such device flush with thesurface of 40 the wall in which it is mounted, or to locate the deviceparallel with and in proper relation to said surface.

Qther objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following de- 45 tailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the inventionis shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details disclosed but in- 50 cludes all such variationsand modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims. a

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view'showing a 55 wallswitch mounted in an outlet box by the means of the invention, a portionof the cover or wall plate being broken partly away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, the wall outlet box, wallplate and the wall adjacent the outlet box being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the improvedmounting means ordevice; and

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mounting ofthe switch with the use of the booster washers as above mentioned. 10

Referred in detail to the drawing a portion of a. wall is shownincluding studding or lathing 4 and plaster 5, and is provided with anopening 6 receiving an outlet box 1 mounted as by cars 8 having screwsor the like 9 passing there- 15 through into a portion of the lathing orstudding 4 of the wall. The outlet box also includes earlike extensions[0 having a screw threaded opening to receivescrews for the purpose ofsecuring a switch, receptacle or similar wiring device in 20 the box aswill appear.

In the drawing a switch H is shown mounted in the outlet box 1, althoughit is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the mountingof switches and that the switch H is shown only for the purpose ofillustration since the same might be any other wiring device as anoutlet receptacle or the like. Switch II has lugs l2 secured to thefront face of the body thereof as by means of screws l3 passing throughsuch body. Said lugs l2 project beyond the ends of the switch body andeach is provided with an opening M for passage of a screw I! for use inmounting the switch or other wiring device in the box 7.

Here the lugs I2 are integral parts of a yoke generally designated l5and including a bridging piece l6 which extends longitudinally acrossthe face of the switch body. By means of the screws l1 passing throughthe openings 14 and threaded into the threaded openings or perforationsin the cars In the yoke I5 is secured to the outlet box supporting theswitch ll therein.

'When the opening 6 is properly cut in the wall 5 the edges of theopening come close to the ears in on the box 1. On each of the lugs l2are a pair of spaced ear-like extensions l8 projecting longitudinallyand laterally beyond the lugs I2 to overlie the front surface of thewall 5 as shown best in Fig. 2. These extensions lying againstthe faceof the wall adjacent the box I insure the proper positioning of theswitch or other wiring device in the box. In Fig. 2 it is noted that thecover or wall plate I9 is attached to the lugs l2 by. means of screws 20passing through the plate and into threaded openings 2i in the lugs.This plate is hollow on its rear side and so receives the extensions l8and the latter while insuring the proper mounting of the switch do notinterfere with the mounting of the plate 89.

The extensions iii are each centrally perforated or provided with anopening at 22 whereby the extensions are in the form of rings orwashers, and the line of connection of each extension with the lugs i2is weakened by being scored or partly severed as at 23. Therefore itwill be clear that the extensions may be readily broken or removed fromthe lugs l2. In the event a solid type cover or wall plate is to be usedinstead of the hollow plate it such extensions must be removed as therewill be no space under the plate to receive them. Or if the opening inthe plaster is too large these extensions will not project suificientlyto rest on the wall surface and the device must then be located by thewall box. When the extensions 88 are removed from the lugs they formwashers, and if needed may be inserted between the lugs l2 and the earsill to boost the switch outwardly to bring it flush with the surface ofthe Wall 5, orto level it up to locate it parallel with this surface andin proper relation thereto should the wall box be tilted or otherwiseimproperly located.

This use of the extensions as washers may be required when the solidtype wall plate is used or when as in Fig. 4 the wall 5 adjacent theopening 5' is broken back to such an extent that the extensions is if onthe lugs I2 would not overlie the surface of the wall. In Fig. 4 thedotted lines 58' suggest the positions the extensions would occupy hadthey not been removed from the lugs l2. It will be noted that suchextensions would not overlie the surface of the wall 5. Therefore theextensions if left on the lugs would accomplish no good purpose.However, in the figure the extensions have been broken or removed fromthe lugs and the extensions now form washers 24 arsenal located aboutthe screws I? and disposed between the lugs l2 and the ears In on thewall bor;

From this it will appear that in Fig. 4 the severed extensions formwashers serving to booster out theswitch or other electrical device H soas to bring it flush with the surface of the wall 5, or to level it upand properly locate it should the wall box be tilted orotherwiseimproperly located. The present means or yoke l5 for the mounting ofelectrical devices in wall boxes therefore includes all elementsnecessary for the mounting of an electrical device under any of thevarying conditions above mentioned. It may be used with the extensionsl8 integral with the lugs as in Figs. 1 and 2 or if the extensionscannot be soused they may be readily severed from the lugs, and then ifwashers are needed they are obtained merely by the severing operationdescribed.

Washers are generally supplied in the packing boxes with switches andother electrical wiring devices but such washers are loose in the boxesand become misplaced and lost and are not always on hand when needed.With the present invention the washers are integral with the yoke untilneeded and will not become lost and are at hand when needed.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

provide booster washers for use on the screw whensaid extensions areremoved from the lug.

HARVEY HUBB ELL, JR.

